Panauti is one of the historical city in Nepal and located near Kathmandu. Visiting Panauti will be certainly worth if you are looking for a refreshment trip to somewhere near the valley. So here are some of the information of Panauti to help your visit and make it more interesting.

About Panauti

Panauti is a small town of Kavre district located in the southeast of Kathmandu. In the ancient period, it used to be the trading hub along with salt trade route between Tibet and India. After the end of salt trade in the 1950s and with the construction of Arniko Highway in 1960s which bypassed the town, Panauti went into an economic rut.

History of Panauti

There has been quite a debate on when Panauti was founded. Some believe that Ananda Malla (1274-1310 BC) founded Panauti, while others believe that there is a golden scripture dated 1385 located within the Indreshwar temple stating that King Harisingh Dev founded the place.

Panauti was integrated into the unified kingdom of Nepal at the end of 13th century along with Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur, which are all former capital cities of Kathmandu valley.

Religious Importance of Panauti

Panauti also consists of various Buddhist as well as Hindu religious monuments, and it is considered to be one of the area’s most important medieval sites.

Panauti lies between the confluence of two rivers, Rosi and Punyamati, which are believed to have religious importance since early time. Visitors often take a bath to in those rivers believing it will free them from sins and anxieties. There is another belief that except those two rivers, a third river named Lilawati also converges making it tri-junction called Triveni. But Lilawati is said to be visible to sheers and intellectuals only. The very presence of all these rivers has enhanced the religious value and popularity of Panauti.  With this account, on every festive occasion, many devotees from around the country pays a visit and takes bath in rivers and plays homage to Indreshwor Mahadev Temple and several other holy sites of the area.

Chariot festival of Panauti

In Panauti, one can find several Buddhist and Hindu religious monuments. It is also the most important medieval sites of the area and most artistic town of Nepal after Kathmandu valley. As the very base of Panauti is culture-built, there are several festivals which reflects the ancient tradition and ancient mythology. Among many of the festivals in Panauti, the most important one is the three-day long Panauti Jatra.

Panauti Jatra is a chariot festival which takes places every year at the end of monsoon. The festival usually begins on the tenth day of the bright fortnight during Jestha (May-June). During the festival, everyone gets busy on preparation of celebrating the festival known as “Duin-chha-nya-ye-ke-guis,” which takes place during the evening time and it is the major attraction of Panauti Jatra.

In Panauti Jatra, several images of gods are placed in a chariot and displayed around the city. It begins from the town’s old Durbar square. Also, during the festival, a team consisting a priest, a woman and a porter cross the bridge over Punyamati river to worship the god; this very act is a yearly event and signifies the tradition for many years before. Following day takes place the next festival called Mu-jatra, which means male festival. In this day, people of Panauti sacrifices male goats and ducks in the name of gods while some simply offer the food. The full moon of a festival is called Panauti Punhi, and is considered as the most favorable day for visiting the river and cleaning your body.

Things to do in Panauti

Visit Indreshwar temple

Indreshwar temple of Panauti is one of the largest and tallest pagoda style temples in Nepal. Originally the temple was built over a lingam in 1294, which makes it an oldest surviving temple of Nepal. Although it is a very old temple, it is well maintained, walled in and managed by Panauti museum.

Indreshwar temple also has a very fine architectural touch. The roof struts of temple embellishing two lower stories of the temple are distinct Nepalese wood-craving and architecture. In the upper part of the temple, there are pots and pans, which are offered by young married couples hoping for a happy and prosperous family life. From Indreshwar temple the third mystical river of Panauti, Lilawati starts, leading to Brahmayani temple across from Tri Beni Ghats.

Visit Panauti Durbar Square

Panauti Durbar Square is not as prominent as the three durbar square of the valley and not very famous but it still is a historical monument of Nepal. There is also the king’s palace in the durbar square, which is yet to be excavated to a larger extent to reveal more about Panauti. However, there are many artifacts and remnants of the palace such as stone taps, bricks, water wells, and coins.

Visit Panauti Museum

Panauti Museum is very close to Indreshwor temple. The museum has a variety of collection including antique walking-stick sword, straw-brush comb and gall bladder of an elephant.

Brahamayani Temple

Brahamayani temple was built during the 17th century. It is a three-tiered temple built to honor the chief goddess of the village, Brahmayani. During the chariot festival of Panauti, image from the temple is hauled around the town. You can get to the temple after crossing one of two pedestrian bridges to the north bank of Punyamati river.

Krishna Narayan Temple

In the junction of Rosi and Pungmati rivers, just behind Indreshwar Mahadev temple, there are shrines and statues of Krishna Narayan temple. You will also see temples with various incarnations of Lord Vishnu. As per the Hindu ceremony, the dead bodies are burned in the temple periphery and ashes are poured in the river.